(Above: Tracy Sydor’s painting, “Brothers,” examines the relationship between artist Vincent Van Gogh and his brother, Theo; the work is part of an exhibit at the Broadway Commerce Center.)

Edited by Anne-Allegra Bennett

Get into the artistic spirit of the New Year by celebrating and supporting local artists who are helping to bring the joy of creativity to this week’s First Friday ArtWalk in downtown Eugene. The Jan. 5 leader of the official guided tour is Liz Lawrence, who recently became a member of the Lane Arts Council’s board of directors. She’s also a fan — and consumer — of contemporary art as well as a nonprofit administrator.

Lawrence studied sculpture, and her first job after college was at Capper’s Frames and Prints.She’s also managed the art galleries at BRING Recycling, and MECCA, aka Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts. Her day job is heading up fundraising and administration for the nonprofit conservation orgnization, McKenzie River Trust.

Official Guided Tour

Dianne Story Cunningham’s work is part of a show at The New Zone Gallery

The First Friday ArtWalk guided tour begins at 5:30 p.m. at The New Zone Gallery (220 W. Eighth Ave.).
Featured artist and gallery president Dianne Story Cunningham shows “Quirky Artifacts From Contemporary Life,” made up of ceramic pieces that express her approach to life. Proceeds from sales of the work will be donated to ShelterCare. Art Forum, a local artists’ group that meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Lincoln Gallery, has a show in the New Zone’s Klausmeier Room, and guitarist Robert Meade will perform.

Continuing on, the guided tour stops at Passionflower Design (128 E. Broadway) at 6 p.m. with a show of original artwork — based on her studies of geology, architecture, and science — by local illustrator Erika

Colorful paintings by Abbas Darabi are on the walls at InEugene Real Estate

Beyer, who has worked for The Nature Conservancy, The Smithsonian, and Gourmet Notes. Beyer will be on hand with her cards, original artwork, and some of her tools of the trade.

At 6:30 p.m. the tour stops to see Abbas Darabi’s largescale oil landscape paintings displayed on the walls of InEugene Real Estate (100 E. Broadway) through January. Darabi considers himself a mostly self-taught artist who paints “transformations of magical moments in nature” as he continues to make new discoveries about color, style and methods of painting.

Out on a Limb Gallery (191 E. Broadway) is the 7 p.m. stop, with a show of landscapes and still life paintings by Eugene artist David Campbell’s show. He emphasizes

“Persimmon” by Eugene artist David Campbell is part of his monthlong show at Out on a Limb Gallery

“representing figures and objects in a landscape or more intimate interior setting, and showing how those things are affected by light, shadow and reflections.” He takes a playful turn by giving his paintings names based on emotional, literary, historic or ironic references.

The last stop on the official tour at 7:30 p.m. at Oregon Art Supply (1020 Pearl St.) features a staff show titled “At Shift’s End.” The exhibit includes works by Clayton Sukau, Shannon Rivers, Lindsay Kunhardt, Megan Wyma, Jordan Walker, and Laura King, who work a the shop each day, supporting the dozens of artists who come through the

Oregon Art Supply has a show of work by its staff members, including this piece by Clayton Sukau

doors for their artistic needs, and then go home to create their own varied work.

Always free, downtown Eugene’s First Friday ArtWalk runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visit lanearts.org for more information.

More arts and culture

In addition to the guided tour, many other galleries, art venues and businesses remain open during the ArtWalk., which is free and runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.:

• Broadway Commerce Center (44 W. Broadway) — Art by Tracy Sydor, including “Brothers,”inspired by the relationship between Vincent Van Gogh and his brother Theo, surrounded by several process photos and other pieces of her work.

• Cowfish (62 W. Broadway) — Collaborative works of LED responsive artists Tiffany Rose and Ame Beard.  

• ECO Sleep Solutions and Gallery (25 E. Eighth Ave.) — Felted wool home décor and apparel by Tylar Merrill; clay tile collages by Annie Heron; hand-painted wood and linen pieces and hand-painted silk apparel by Lybi Thomas; stone carvings, wood sculptures and masks by Cedar Caredio; and Luminessence light sculptures by Stephen White.

• Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.) — Artwork by participants in the Open Arts Studio at OSLP Arts and Culture Program. Performance at 6 p.m. by Gus Russell Quartet and vocalist Laurie Hammond of classic jazz and Great American Songbook tunes of the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s.

• Eugene Yoga (245 E. Broadway) — Collection of photographs of Oregon and other places in the Pacific

Katsuyaki Shibata has a showing of photographs at Eugene Yoga

Northwest and beyond by Katsuyuki Shibata.

• Euphoria Chocolate Company (946 Willamette St.) — Photos by Bill Craighead, plus work created during “MuseArt,” with local artists creating on site while local musicians perform, joining music and visual art together.

• gilt+gossamer (873 Willamette St.) — M.V. Moran exhibit, “anxious circles-despondent spheres,” about the process of creating that relieves stress and anxiety; show runs through January. 

• Goldworks Jewelry Art Studio (169 E. Broadway) — Original jewelry by Goldworks staff.

• Karin Clarke Gallery (760 Willamette St.) — “4th Collectors’ Resale Show,” a curated show of previously owned works that are ready for new homes, featuring regional artists whose work is highly sought after and hard to come by, including David McCosh, Jan Zach, Andrew Vincent, Robert Huck,

Nelson Sandgren, Carl Hall, Jack McLarty, and Arthur Runquist.

• The Lincoln Gallery (309 W. Fourth Ave.) — “Call for Sunshine,” yellow-themed work by artists at the OSLP Arts & Culture Program and other artists in the community; staff art show by MECCA in the Community Room Gallery.

Bright yellow — a glorious idea in the gloom of winter — is the theme of a show at The Lincoln Gallery; among the pieces is a portrait by Lisa Sansevere

• MAVEN (271 W. Eighth Ave.) — Exhibit by Portland artist Arise Rawk, featuring twistd abstractness of graffiti blened with fine art ane surrealism — info at ArtPal.com/ariserawk — plus French Cookie, One Love Wines, Maven’s steamed buns and music by Dj Robno.  

• Mosaic Fair Trade Collection (28 E. Broadway) — Handicrafts from around the world and fair trade wine tasting.

• Townshend’s Teahouse (41 W. Broadway) — Work by Sonja Anise, based on dreams, visions and stream-of-consciousness leading to finding solace through artistic expression.

• The Wayward Lamb (150 W. Broadway) — Simon Graves showcases a collection of portraits depicting famous people whose actions help define good. The Sazerac Company give samples on site. Music: Solo guitarist Perry Tomlin.

Special (free) event

• No Shame Eugene (99 W. 10th Ave.) – Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with live music. The show begins at 8 p.m. an features 15 original, 5-minute acts ranging from monologues to sketch comedy to the experimental. The show is made up of the first 15 acts to register with the host when doors open. Come to perform, but there’s no shame in just watching.